Mining-machine.



A. BALL.

MiNlNG MACHINE.

m ucmou FILED 001.9. 1906.

Patented May 30,1916- 6 SHEETSSHEETI ent-4:-

Inventar aZAM- M A. BALL.

MINSNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED our. 9. 190a.

Pamnted May 30,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witnesses.

A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1906.

laten ted May 30, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Invenlor.' W M by i M fllgs.

U M M W mwy A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, I905- 1,185,277. Patented May 30, 1916. k- 6SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventor. Wflw z 24 k) y A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9,1906- 1,].85,277. Patented May 30, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N @o g p} Q R f A i \e v? N L witnesses. Inventor Q M W fiwa A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLED OCT-9,1906- 1,1 85,277. Patented May 30,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

71 FJ 'gLIO k ml" .lv

2117066 6 e s [rz 8/672 Zor: ma Q.@MMw/) award Bail;

4 M j/-4 Q9 may Qua-sum a w-nJuns-a I c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT BALL, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR-PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT BALL, a citi- -Zen of the United States,residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of NewHampshire, have invented an Im rovement in Mining-Machines, of which t efollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to mining machines and more particularly tomachines provided with cutting mechanism and with means for feeding thesame along the wall in which the cut or kerf is being made.

Among the objects of my invention are improved means for controlling andhandling such machines, particularly improved constructional featuresproviding a machine of compact form, great strength and effectiveness,and convenience of arrangement, all of which are points of desirabilityin machines of this class.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrationof one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a mining machineembodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view on a reducedscale showing in outline the entire machine; Fig. 3 is a central,longitudinal ection taken through one end of the machine along the line3-3 in Fig. 1 and looking from the wall side of the ma- "chine; Fig. 4is a similar sectional view showing the remaining portion of theopposite end of the machine; Fig. 5 is a transverse section, partiallybroken away, taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section takenon the irregular line 66 in Fig. 1 and showing the feed transmissiongearing; Fig. 7 shows the cam slide rod; Fig. 8 is a section inelevation on an enlarged scale taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 1: Fig. 9is a section in elevation on an enlarged scale taken on the line 9-9 inFig. 1; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan showing the arrangement of themachine for cutting in a direction opposite to that indicated in Fig. 2:and Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing partly in section the relationof the clutch to the cutter chain sprocket Wheel.

In the drawings I have shown for the purpose of illustrating the variousfeatures of my invention an electrically driven chain mining machine ofthe so-called long Wall type. That is to say, a machine which is adaptedto make a continuous out while traveling close to the face of the wall,the top of the mine being either posted or permitted to drop except inthe narrow space in which the machine travels.

In the particular type of machine illustrated there is provided a cutterbar and a cutting mechanism which, during the cutting operation, isswung to approximately a right angled relation to the side of themachine. The cutting mechanism is driven through suitable transmissiondevices by an electric motor which also acts to drive suitable feedingmechanism for the simultaneous traverse of the machine under its ownpower. In the specific type of machine shown the machine is caused toslide along the mine bottom upon a suitable bottom plate or shoe andwithout the necessity of tracks or the like. the feeding taking placethrough appropriate engagement with a fixed feeding chain havinganchored ends in accordance with the general principles disclosed in U.S. patent to Mitchell No. 656.414.

\Vhile certain features of my invention as herein disclosed relate moreparticularly to others to machines of the long wall type, vet in many ofits features and combinations it has and is intended to have general andbroad application to mining and other machines of quite dissimilartypes.

Referring to the drawings and to the specific embodiment of theinvention therein shown. the principal operating parts are mounted onand secured to an underlying frame member consisting of the flat bottomplate or shoe A. In the present instance this is constructed of wroughtiron and extends substantially the entire length and breadth of the mainbody of the machine so as to underlie the same and form a firm and solidsupport therefor during sliding contact with the mine bottom.

The body .of the machine comprises primanly the motor frame re resentedat B, which is bolted directly an' rigidly to the bottom plate or shoe(Fig. 4), and the main frame or casting C, which is bolted at one end tothe motor frame or casting and at its opposite end is bolted to andsupported upon the pillars or posts C, (only one of said p1llarsappearing on Fig. 3) which are erected near the opposite end of thebottom plate. The motor frame has secured to it the field magnet piecesB and is provided with substantial. journal bearings B at one end of themachine for the motor shaft. The casting C provides journal bearings Bfor the opposlte end of the motor shaft (Fig. 3) and also providessupport forthe principal power transmitting elements of the machine insuch an elevated position, however, that between the said frame and thebottom late (Figs. 3 and 5) there is provided asufli dient space for thecutter chain to operate and for the cuttingsto pass through.

Referring first to the cutter chain and its driving mechanism, the chain(shown in Fig. 1), which may be of any suitable construction, is mountedto travel along gibbed ways in opposite sides of the cutter bar D, thelatter having a pivoted attachment upon the machine. The outer end ofthe cutter bar carries the usual idle sprocket wheel (not shown) overwhich the chain passes, and at its inner end is provided with thedriving sprocket wheel d (Figs. 3 and 5) through which the chain isdriven, the driving sprocket wheel being mounted co-axially with theswiveling of the cutter bar. The cutter bar, as well as the cutterchain, except as hereinafter referred to, may be of any suitable orusual construction. The inner end of the cutter bar is provided with aremovable cap (1, by which it may be clamped to a pivotal support uponthe bottom plate A. This pivotal support (Figs. 3 and 5) is in the formof a flanged sleeve (1 firmly riveted to the bottom plate A, there beingprovided a necked portion (i between which and the bottom flange thecutter bar has a swinging movement about the removable lining or bushlngd. The sleeve 0. is also provided with an interior bushing dshoulderedat its upper end and providing in conjunctlon with the bottombearing washer d a lower step bearing for the upright sprocket wheeldriving shaft E. The sprocket wheel 03 is loosely and revolubly mountedon the hub e of the beveled driving gear 6. but may be clutched to orunclutched therefrom bythe toothed clutching device e which latter isvertically slidable. The gear hub is apertured at intervals and theupper face of the sprocket wheel is notched as at 6 so that the teeth eThe r sprocket wheel has the removable bushing Or binding (2 and isretained upon the hub of the gear by the flanged collar e, bolted to thelower face of, the gear hub. The upper end of the clutch member presentsan inturned annularshoulder e which is engaged byarc-shaped feet a thelatter carried by depending plungers vertically slidable in the mainframe and connected each to an overhead operating lever 6 (Figs. 1 and3) by means of arms e and the rock shaft c (Fig. 1) whereby the clutchmay be raised or lowered at will. B raising or lowering the hand lever 6the di'iving gear may be unclutched from or clutched to the cutter chainsprocket wheel, the lever being retained in its assigned position by theengagement of the spring arm 6 with the upright notched post e The bevelgear 6 meshes with the driving pinion 11 secured to the motor so thatthe cutter chain is driven directly from the motor through theinterposition of the bevel gears e and I) only. This disposition of theoperating elements permits the motor to be disposed horizontally at oneend of the machine and the cutter bar to extend laterally from theupright sprocket wheel driving shaft at the opposite end of the machine,the feed transmitting parts, to be more fully described, being supportedtherefor upon the frame over the cutter bar and at the opposite end ofthe machine from the motor.

One provision of importance is the provision of ample bearing surfacefor the main upright driving shaft E and the provision of an adequatebearing both above and below the cutter chain sprocket wheel and thedriving gear. In the present instance the upper bearing is provided bythe elongated journal box 0, formed in the main casting, and the lowerjournal by the journal sleeve (1 already described. In the describedmachine I have provided means whereby the cutter bar may be swung to aposition somewhat away from and at either side of a true right angledrelation to the machine. In Fig. 1 the cutter bar is inclined about 9yforwardly in the direction of cutting. which latter is shown by thearrow. This causes the bar to hold the machine to the coal as themachine is traversed without any special guiding devices other than thefeeding chain instead of being thrown away from the coal by the actionof the cutters as would be the tendency were the relation exactly rightangled.

In this machine, which is adapted for cutting while the machine istraversing in i i -"yclination shown in Fig. 1, or in opposite but likeinclination for cutting in a reverse direction.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5 and 9, the upper frame plate C isprovided with a flanged portion 0 which is reinforced by.

the plate (1" and provided with a pair of adjacent recesses or notchesa, 6". Vhen the cutter bar is to be locked for cutting operation a-.heavy latching bolt 0 is inserted in one of the notches and the. cutterbar swun about until the bolt passes through a registering aperture oflike formation in the cutter bar. The lower part of the latch ing boltenters and is held by a similar notch in the underlying locking plate a(Fig. 5) secured to the upper edge of the bottom plate A. The two setsofnotches in the upper frame plate and the underlying locking plate areso arranged that in cooperation with the latching bolt they serve tolock the cutter bar in the correct position andwith the properinclination for cutting in either the one or the other direction. Inaddition to the latching bolt 0" the cutter bar D may also be held fixedby the threaded bolt 0 the latter having threaded engagement with atapered nut 0 (Fig. 5) retained in the underlying latching plate theframe plate being provided with two apertures for the bolts 0", one ofwhich registers with the single aperture in the cutter bar in oneposition of the latter and with the other in the second position. Forloading the machine upon the trucks it is desirable to turn the cutterbar to a generally longitudinal position and in such longitudi nalposition the bar may be locked by passing the threaded bolt 0 throughthe aperture indicated at 0 (Fig. 1).

While other methods of feeding or causing the travel of the machineduring the cutting operation, .or at other times may be employed, I haveherein shown the feed chain K, which is so engaged by a suitablesprocket wheel on the main sprocket wheel driving shaft that the machineis given a continuous uninterrupted feeding movement while cutting. Withthe machine cutting in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 the chain isassociated with the machine in the fashion shown in Fig. 2. That is tosay the leading end k of the chain, which is anchored to a fixed supportin advance and close to the face of the wall. passes to an idler wheelis carried on the removable and adjustable brace rod la at the leadingend of the machine and closely adjacent the Wall, thence about theidlers I0 and thence to the chain driving sprocketwheel L (Figs. 3 and6). From the sprocket L it asses over another idle wheel is carried onan adjustable and removable arm it: which holds ing as follows:

the rear end of the chain out toward that side of the machine oppositethe wall side thereof. The chain then passes to a ratchet and pawlmechanism (not shown) by which the slack may be taken in or let out asdesired. 'ith the chain in this relation the machine is held up to theface of the wall by its own traversing action upon the chain. It will beseen that this machine is capable of cutting and feeding in eitherdirection and that a change from a cut in one direc tion to a cut in theopposite direction may be. made by readjusting the cutter bar asdescribed and reversing the position of the cutters or the cutter chainon the cutter-bar, but without turning or reversing the position of themachine as a whole. an operation which on account of the narrow workingspace is usually dillicult and undersirable For the sake of mechanicalsimplicity, these two portions of the chain are herein' shown unitedinto one continuous length of chain. \l'heu it is desired to cut in theopposite direction the leading end of the chain may be led directly toits anchor support without the'intervention of the idle roll in and therear end of the chain directly to the ratchet and pawl mechanism withoutthe use of the guiding roll Z'. liy adjusting the cutter bar to aninclination in the opposite direction and reversing the movement of thedriving mechanism and the inclination of the cutter bits the machine cancut in the opposite direction. being held to the wall as before by theleverage exerted by the feeding chain. The space occupied by the bevelgear is protected from the space immediately beneath. through which passthe coal cuttings during the operation of the machine. by the plate orcover C.

Referring more particularly to Fig. (3. driving movement is transmittedto the. sprocket wheel from the sprocket wheel driving shaft F. throughthe train of gear- Near the upper end of the upright driving shaft thereis provided a driving pinion m. which is driven through an overheadyieldable transmission device hereinafter described. This pinion mesheswith and drives the gear or on -the idler shaft m the latter havingkeyed thereto at its lower end the pinion meshing with the idler gear m.The latter meshes with and drives the gear a. keyed to the lower end ofthe high speed driving shaft 21'. which carries loosely mounted thereonthe driving pinion n meshing directly with the large sprocket wheeldriving gear 1, keyed to the sprocket wheel L. The latter is revolublymounted upon the upright fixed sprocket shaft 12.

Splined to the upper end of the shaft n to rotate therewith is a slidingclutch sleeve a having a toothed lower face which may be depressed toclutch with and drive the pinion n, the latter having a correspondingtoothed upper face. When thus clutched the pinion drives the sprocketwheel directly at the higher speed.

For obtaining the slow feeding move ment, which is used during cutting,the constantly rotating clutch member a has gear teeth 11. which meshwith the large intermediate gear 0, the latter loosely journaled upon areduced portion of the sprocket shaft 12. The gear 0 has secured'to itthe smaller overhead pinion 0', which meshes with the smaller idlepinion 0 the latter driving the larger gear 19, which is looselyjournaled on the upright slow speed driving shaft p. The gear 12, whichis thus constantly driven at a reduced rate of speed, may be clutched todrive the shaft ;0 by depression of the sliding clutch member 17 thelatter on depression having toothed en the upper face of the gear hu l).When thus clutched the shaft p drives the pinion p which is keyedthereto, and, the pinion meshing with the sprocket driving gear Z,drives the sprocket wheel L at a relatively slow rate of speed. In otherwords, with the clutch member a raised and the clutch member 79 lowered,as shown in Fig. 6, the sprocket wheel is driven at the slow or cuttingspeed. With the clutch member 11.

- lowered and the clutch member 12* raised, the

an interlocking or toothed engagement with the gear 0, may be readilywithdrawn on removal of the gear plate.

For engaging or disengaging the clutch members at will there is providedthe sliding controller rod r (Figs. 6,7 and'8) having suitably formedcam grooves in its face, which grooves are caused to engage lugs r and1' respectively, carried by the sliding clutch members n and 72 The lugs1' and 1' are formed respectively upon sleeves 1" and r (Fig. 6,) andthese sleeves are retained each upon a reduced portion of its respectiveclutch member by flanged threaded caps 1' and 1. The formation of thecam grooves is such that when the rod is moved to the left as shown inFig. 6, the clutch member 17 is depressed and the clutch member 21.raised, giving the slow cutting speed. W'hen moved to the right, thereverse condition falls, giving the high speed. The rod 1' slides inguide-ways formed in the top of the frame plate C and is moved in onediagement withwhen a given load on the feeding chain is exceeded. Thiscomprises a cup-shaped member 8, formed integrally with the pinion m,and having a cone-shaped friction surface engaglng with thecorresponding surface of a driving member s, which latter is splined tothe drive shaft but free to slide 7 lengthwise the same{ During cuttingmovement these two members are pressed together by a spring 8 seated ina pocket in the driving member s, the pressure of said spring beingregulated by an adjusting nut 8 which may be set to the degree ofcompression required for transmitting the desired load. v

When moving the machine about, in order to avoid slippage at thetransmission device there is provided means for placing pressure uponthe transmission device in addition to that of the spring. For thispurpose there is threaded upon the upper end of the driving member s anut s, between which and the Washer 8 upon the driving member there isprovided a collar 8 having a pair of diametrically opposite trunnions(Fig. 3) jointed to the swiveled split ring frame sf, the latter beingpivoted at 8 upon the machine. The opposite end of the ring frame isprolonged into the arm 8", which carries the 'bracket 8 through anopening in which passes the cam shaft 8. The latter is provided with aneccentric cylindrical cam s" which works within the bracket and bearsagainst an underlying plate 8 (Fig. 5). The plate 6 is pressed upwardlyby the stiff spring 8 carried by the yoke s, the latter sustained by thebolts 8 depending from the bracket. The cam shaft 8 is provided at itsouter end (Fig. 1) with the hand lever 8 By turning the hand lever, thecam roll 8 may be turned to increase or diminish the pressure upon theunderlying plate a, this in turn acting through the yoke s and the ringframe to detract from or add to, the

pressure-already exerted between the memv bers of the yieldabletransmission by the spring 8 By merely depressing the ring frame throughthe hand lever s" the transmission device may be made to transmit morethan the normally assigned load and thus avoid slippage at the highspeed, such control over the friction between the.trans mission members,however, being exerted through the yielding, though relatively stifi'spring a which thus acts to make the action of the controlling leverless abrupt.

In order to prevent pressure in addition to that of the spring frombeing placed upon the transmission device during the cutting speed, acam shaft 8 (Fig. (3) mav be provided, with 3 lug t, which in the lowspeed position of the slide rod 1* is caused to underlie the overhanginglug f carried by the side of the rod. This prevents movement of the camshaft in a direction to increase the pressure on the transmission devicewhen the machine is traveling at the slow cutting speed.

It will be understood that during the cutting operation the entiremachine all delicate parts are protected by sheet iron covers orprotection plates from falling coal or stone. dust. grit or the like.

\Vhile I have here shown and described one form of my invention forillustrative purposes, it will be understood that the same is notlimited to the specilic form and arrangement of parts or the particular(lo-- tails of construction shown, but that eX- tensive modifications inthese respects may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Claims: A

1. A mining machine having a bottom plate, flexible guiding means forguiding the machine along the work, a cutter bar, means to fix thecutter bar laterally upon the plate and at a forward inclinationrelatively to the line of advance of the machine, and feed transmissiondevices for causing the travel of the machine during the cuttinoperation, said devices being supported over one end of said cutter bar.

2. A long wall mining machine having flexible guiding means to hold themachine to the work, said means being adjustable to reverse its relationto the machine and provide for travel of the machine in eitherdirection, a cutter bar, means to fix said cutter bar laterally upon themachine at a slight forward inclination relatively to the line ofadvance of the machine irrespective of its direction of travel, a cutterchain operatively supported by the cutter bar, an electric motordisposed horizontally upon the machine and driving connections betweenthe motor and the cutter chain.

3. A long wall mining machine having means permitting the same to slidealong the mine bottom, an electric driving motor mounted longitudigallyand horizontally upon said plate near one end thereof, an uprightsprocket wheel driving shaft near the opposite end of the plate andhaving a lower journal bearing thereon, an upper frame plate in whichsaid shaft has an up per journal bearing, a cutter bar pivoted upon saleuprlght sprocket wheel driving shaft between said upper plate and saidlower plate, means for locking said cutter bar while extended laterallyfrom the machine, a bevel gear secured to said sprocket driving shaft, abeveled pinion upon the motor shaft meshing therewith, and a clutchingdevice for clutching said beveled gear to said sprocket wheel.

4. A long wall mining machine having means permitting the same to slidealong the mine bottom, an electric driving motor mounted longitudinallyand horizontally upon said plate near one end thereof," an uprightsprocket wheel driving shaft near the opposite end of the plate andhaving a. lower journaled bearing thereon, an upper frame plate in whichsaid shaft has an upper journaled bearing, a cutter bar pivoted uponsaid upright sprocket wheel driving shaft between said upper plate andsaid lower plate,- means for locking said cutter bar while extendedlaterally from the machine, a bevel gear secured to said sprocket wheeldriving shaft, a beveled pinion upon the motor shaft meshing therewith,a clutching device for clutching said bevel gear to said sprocket, andfeed transmission gearing supported upon said upper frame plate anddriven from said sprocket driv-- ing shaft.

5. A mining machine having cutting mechanism and means for operating thesame, feeding mechanism, means for operating the feeding mechanism atrelatively ditl'erent speeds, a yieldable transmission device effectiveat the lower speed for limiting the power transmitted to the feedingmechanism. and elastic means for varying the power transmitted throughsaid yieldable transmission device to secure a higher speed.

(i. A mining machine havin feeding mechanism, means for transmittingpower thereto at a plurality of speeds, a yieldable transmission devicethrough whlch said power is transmitted, said device comprising adriving and a driven member having frictional engagement,adjustablemeans for enforcing pressure between said members, additional means forincreasingthe pressure between said members, and a cushioning springbetween said additional means and said friction members.

7. A mining machine having an electric motor, cutter bar extendinglaterally from the machine, a cutter chain operatively supported by thecutter bar, driving connections between the motor and the cutter chain,and a bottom plate or shoe upon which the machine is adapted to slidealong the mine, said plate extending benea h said motor and one end ofsaid cutter bar, and the latter having a pivoted support upon the saidplate.

8. A mining machine having an electric motor disposed horizontallylengthwise of the machine, a cutter bar extending laterally from themachine, and an upper frame member, a lower frame member between whichsaid cutter bar is pivoted, said machine bcing adapted to slide alongthe mine bottom on the said lower frame member and flexible guidingmeans to hold the machine to the Work.

9. A mining machine having an electric motor, a cutter bar mountedadjacent to said motor and extending laterally from the machine, acutter chain operatively supported on the cutter bar, a driving sprocketWheel connected to drive the chain, a bottom plate extending beneathsaid motor and one end of said cutter bar, and bearings for saidsprocket Wheel receiving support from the bottom plate.

10. A mining machine having supporting means permitting the same toslide along the mine bottom, flexible guiding means to hold the machineto the work, an upper frame member, a cutter bar pivoted between saidupper frame member and said supporting means, locking devices forfastening the cutter bar slightly at one side of a r1 htangled relationto the machine, and eed transmission devices above one end of the cutterbar and supported by the upper frame member.

11. A. mining machine having means permitting the same to slide alongthe mine bottom, an electric motor disposed horizontally lengthwise themachine, a cutter bar mounted adjacent the motor and extending laterallyfrom the machine, a cutter chain, a driving sprocket wheel for thechain, and a journal bearing for the sprocket Wheel both above and belowthe same.

12. A mining machine having supporting means permitting the same toslide along the mine bottom. a cutter bar mounted at substantiallyright-angles to the machine duringthe cutting operation, a cutter chainoperatively supported thereon, a sprocket wheel, a sprocket Wheeldriving shaft, an upper frame member, said sprocket wheel driving shafthaving an upper journal bearing in the upper frame member and a lowerjournal bearing in said supporting means, an electric motor disposedhorizontally upon the machine and gearing connections between the motorand the sprocket Wheel.

13. A long Wall mining machine having supporting means upon which thesame is adapted to slide along the mine bottom, an electric drivingmotor, a cutter bar presented laterally from the machine during the cutting operation, means for causing the machine to travel and to cut inone direction or to travel and cut in the opposite direction, wherebythe machine may be reversed without turning the same around.

14. A mining machine having a cutter chain, a cutter bar supporting thesame, an electric driving motor arranged with its shaft at right anglesto the sald cutter bar,

feeding mechanism, means foroperating the feeding mechanism atrelatively different speeds, a yieldable transmission device effectiveat .the lower speed for limiting the power transmitted to the feedingmechanism, and elastic means for varying the power transmitted throughsaid yieldable transmission device to secure a hi her speed;

15. A mining machine iiaving anv electric motor disposed horizontallylengthwise the machine, supporting means upon which the machine isadapted to slide along the mine bottom, a frame member above thesupporting means, and a cutter bar extending laterally from the machineand pivoted between said frame member and said supporting means.

16. A mining machine having a bottom plate an electric driving motor, acutter bar pivoted directly upon and above said plate, and a lockingbolt for locking said bar at either side of a rightangled relation tothe machine.

17. A mining machine having a bottom plate, an electric driving motor, aframe member above the plate, a cutter bar pivoted between the plate andthe upper frame member and means engagin the cutter bar, plate and framemember or locking said bar in any one of a plurality of positions.

18. A mining machine having a bottom plate, an electric driving motor,feeding means upon the machine, a flexible feeding device with which thesame is adapted to engage to cause the travel of the machine along themine bottom, a cutter bar pivoted upon the plate and means for lockingsaid cutter bar at either side of a right-angled relation to saidmachine.

19. A mining machine having a bottom plate upon which the machine isadapted to slide along the mine bottom, an electric driving motor, and acutter bar pivotally mounted at one end of the plate and atsubstantially right angles thereto, said machine having an open spaceabove the bottom plate and on either side of the cutter bar to permitthe passage of the cuttings through the machine.

20. A long wall mining machine having supporting means upon which thesame is adapted to slide along the mine bottom, an electric drivingmotor, and flexible guiding means for holding the machine to its workduring the cutting operation, the same presenting two flexible portionsconnected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of themachine and the other on the receding side thereof. one connected to themachine near the wall or cutting end and the other relatively near theopposite end thereof, the connections of said flexible guiding means tothe machine being reversible Whereby its relation may be reversed, andthe driving mechanism for the machine being also reversible whereby themachine may be cutter bar to permit the passage of the cut caused totravel and cut in either direction. tings through the machine.

21. A mining machine having supporting In testimony whereof, I havesigned my means upon which the machine is ad-a ted to name to thisspecification, in the presence of; 5 slide along the mine blpttom, anelectric drivtwo subscribing witnesses.

in motor, a cutter ar pivotally mounted at one end of the supportingmeans, and ALBERT BALL power transmission means supported overWitnesses:

one end of said cutter bar, said machine E. J. BURCHARD, 10 having anopen space on either side of the L.WILLs0N HALL

